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Monday, 15 September 2014

Dover creates Pickle Sandwich

After successfully shelving plans over a number of years to bring leading supermarkets to Sandwich, Dover District Council has approved plans for two for the Cinque Port town at the same planning meeting.

Then, the importance of Discovery Park to the local economy was underlined when councillors overturned their own Planning Officer’s recommendation to refuse, granting Sainsbury's permission to develop a 30,000ft2 supermarket on the site, bringing with it the prospect of 200 jobs.

It’s understood that councillors from Dover DC argued the development would enable Sandwich residents to shop locally, rather than having to travel to Dover, Canterbury or Ramsgate.

However, local traders have criticised the decision, suggesting it would result in a loss of trade from the town centre in excess of £5.2 million, a trading impact of more than 55 per cent, according to the council’s own research.

The final decision on which of the two approved schemes in Sandwich gets the final green light will be taken by Secretary of State Eric Pickles.